| Official Luthiers Forum! http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20274 |
Page 1 of 2 |
| Author: | Hesh [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Happy 2009 everyone!  OK we heard about what we least like to do when building guitars so now it's time to ask what is your favorite guitar building operation? Mine is bracing a top which includes gluing the braces with HHG and especially carving them and voicing the top. I am still amazed by how a top can come alive right before your very ears. Let's hear what part of building a guitar is your favorite?
|
|
| Author: | Fred Tellier [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Stringing it up and hearing its 1st notes, that really makes one feel good and that all the work was worth it. My second favorite is hearing it played by a really good guitarist, I attend all of the Michigan Fingerstyle concerts and workshops so I have had the chance to have many really talented people play the 3 guitars I have built. Fred |
|
| Author: | James Orr [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I've really enjoyed bending as of late. It's alway the voicing or bending that I enjoy the most. |
|
| Author: | Mike Collins [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Going to a wood supplier & picking out sets !! Also stringing them up ! Mike |
|
| Author: | Mark Groza [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Stringing it up for the first time.Then preparing the top for glueing.Then 
|
|
| Author: | Peter Pii [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Voicing gets me all excited
|
|
| Author: | Dave Fifield [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
For me it has to be the look on the face of the recipient when they see/play it for the first time. Dave F. |
|
| Author: | Brad T [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Stringing one up and hearing it play for the first time. An equal to that is what Dave said. When someone opens the case and yells "Hot Dang" and runs in a circle, that's wonderful. When they play it and yell again, running in another circle, that is the ultimate!! Meeting the people that adopt your guitars and making new friends is the best part all in all. I deliver mine and don't ship if it is within 5 hours of my home for this very reason. I've made some really good friends who I still talk with because of a guitar. |
|
| Author: | joe white [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
FINISHING!!! 
|
|
| Author: | Jeremy Douglas [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
So far it has been carving the braces. I like about anything that involves a chisel. |
|
| Author: | Paul Burner [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
My dad died suddenly when I was 12 - cerebral hemorrhage - never saw it coming... he was only 42 and healthy. I'm now 55.. and having the ability to share the joy of building guitars with my son (22) in our shop (garage) is by far my favorite part. This all started with a dream 2 years ago - that we got to share this past May by spending a week with Kevin Gallagher. It is a week I will never forget. My son and I had a great relationship going into this - but it is even more special now. I'm convinced his grandpa he never met is smiling down on us from a better place. Happy New Year. |
|
| Author: | stan thomison [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Seeing Paul's post. I really like it all and then shipping them My best time was working with Bill Moll and sharing time and learning more for a couple of years and visiting him. The vet's or their kids graditude and happiness when get it. Hearing from a couple of them who did some home recordings on ones they got. Building wise as this thread was intended, I think the whole part of making, and carving the braces to where want them and the cutting of binding channels and binding the box, routing the rosette channel and making and inlay of the rosette. I like all those processes equal. I am looking forward to starting electric's doing more and more repair work. I am getting where like repair as much as building if not more. Harder, but love learning those challenges. May as wife has recommended look for a school that is really more repair orientated than building. Anyone know of such a place? |
|
| Author: | BruceHerrmann [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
It may just be that this forum is one of the best parts of guitar building for me. The confidence I gain from reading all of your posts and seeing the great work done by each of you gives me hope that I can pull it off. I started building when there was nobody to talk to, one book, Joseph Wallo in Washington D.C. as a wood supplier (he'd rather have been building and repairing violins...) so it was tough. I slowed down, built a few guitars over a 30 year period and then realized that things had changed, there was a community of builders who were glad to share ideas and techniques, it was fun again. So this place is one of the best things about building for me. Paul's post was great, I lost my Dad at a very young age over 30 years ago, we share the same profession and I'd love to have him around for a day to compare notes and trade stories. My wife and I have no children so I have to imagine what that would be like, sure seems like one of the great joys in life. I can't think of a better way to connect with a son or daughter than by building together. My favorite part of building would have to be right after the body is joined together and you smell that great smell through the soundhole of pure wood and glue, no finish, just raw wood. It's a great smell.. and you have not had a chance to screw up the process of routing for the bindings yet so you're still in a good mood....... Thanks Hesh, great post. Bruce |
|
| Author: | bluescreek [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I love inlaying the fretboard that is my favorite process |
|
| Author: | patmguitars [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Walking into my workshop in the morning is always a big thrill; but: Voicing a top is the most stimulating; Carving a neck is most satisfying; Stringing up a guitar is the most exiting; Seeing the reaction of the buyer is the most gratifying... Something really special about being a luthier: when meeting new people who ask you what you do for a living, the look of astonishment you get when you answer that you make guitars (or any other string instrument in the applicable case). It's like for a few seconds, they seem to be thinking: "Wow! This is the coolest job I have heard about in a long time!" Do you guys get that reaction too? Cheers Pat |
|
| Author: | John Mayes [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
James Orr wrote: I've really enjoyed bending as of late. It's alway the voicing or bending that I enjoy the most. Ditto |
|
| Author: | Larry Drover [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
The pure enjoyment of listening to a musician bring my guitars alive.... Where would they be without us????? |
|
| Author: | Ken C [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I always love spraying the finish and seeing the wood come alive. Carving the bracing ranks up there as does scraping the perflings and seeing all the tight joints. Ken |
|
| Author: | ChuckH [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I gotta go with bending the sides and gluing the braces on the top and then shaping them. That really gets me on a roll to finish the box. Great thread by the way! |
|
| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I'm with Mike...I love to shop for wood. Steve |
|
| Author: | old man [ Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I enjoy everything but the sanding (of all types), but my favorite is probably carving a neck. To start with a rectangular chunk of wood and find and remove everything that isn't a neck is a real thrill. Ron |
|
| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I am really impressed that some of you have a favorite part. I kind of like it all. To me, to have a favorite would imply having a least favorite. Its not a job to me. Jobs have bests and worsts. Not so in guitar building (for me). Mike |
|
| Author: | CWLiu [ Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Seeing the customer's satisfying smile. |
|
| Author: | Alain Desforges [ Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
I just love pore filling!!!... I'm being facetious, of course... There are many steps I really enjoy. Voicing a top is always very cool, as is carving the neck and planning/executing a rosette... Although I really enjoy stringing up a guitar for the first time, I'm always a bit apprehensive at the lack of tone and projection in the first few hours. I also really enjoy setting up a guitar. Although the steps can be repetitive and seemingly mundane, dialing in the action is what makes a player. Speaking of which, here's a little tip I picked from K&K pick-up instalation guides. When you're setting action (intonating/shapping saddle/installing pick-ups...etc...) and you need to take out the pins at the bridge, use a capo (I like to clamp it around fret 5) so you can maintain tension at the tuners and you can secure the dangling strings instead of having the ball ends hitting your freshly finished guitar. Now why didn't I think of that! |
|
| Author: | TonyKarol [ Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Your MOST Favorite Part Of Guitar Building? |
Oddly enough .. buying the wood !!!!! nothing like feasting on a pile of zoot, with a not yet maxxed out piece of plastic in your hand ... But really, I enjoy mostly everything except wet sanding and rubbing out a finish .. going thru causes so many heartaches .... but when the strings finally go on .. Mmmmmmmm |
|
| Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|